R&D + Innovation in Big Law

In June 2015 I wrote a blog post Law Firm R&D Initiatives Grow – Time for a League Table? In March 2016, after seeing another large firm R&D initiative announcement, I decided to create this page. I list here law firms that have formally announced or publicized research and development (R&D) or funded innovation initiatives.

As I noted in my blog post, what counts as real R&D may not always be clear:

Let’s not overlook that many other firms invest in building legal technology and new initiatives. US-based firms with online services include Baker Donelson, Littler, and Foley & Lardner (see my list of firms with online services for more examples). And other firms have invested in legal project management, Seyfarth and Gowlings most prominently. So with or without the R&D label, we know that many a firm invests time and money to pursue new ideas and competitive advantage.

Subsequent to publishing this list, based on crowdsourced feedback, I included, in a separate table for large law firms that have announced partnerships with incubators or others to foster, support, and do R&D. I have also added DWT De Novo to the list of internal R&D.

I am adding to the list from March through May 2016. As of June 2016, I will note when I added a firm.

Expanding the List

September 2018

In an illustration of the challenges of keeping a list like this… I haven’t seen many formal R&D announcements since my last update. And many firms now have a senior person with innovation in her or his title. I’m not comfortable including those firms solely on the basis of a person with a title – it’s too hard to know if there is really a systematic program.

I have, however, noticed some firms announce legal technology / legal tech product initiatives. In my book, these are innovative. So I am now including them.

November-December 2017

As of late 2017, I realized that more inclusive criteria would yield a longer, and I think more helpful and accurate list. So instead of sticking with firms that have formally designated R&D or funded “innovation” initiatives, I decided to exercise a bit more editorial judgment. As of Nov 2017, I am including initiatives that seem innovative or R&D focused based on loose criteria of what ‘feels real”.

I’m sure some firms will feel left out and I welcome hearing from you via my contact form. Feel free to suggest additions (or deletions) and to comment on what the proper inclusion criteria should be. I reserve final decision rights.

“Addleshaw Goddard has combined its flexible resourcing, consulting and innovation arms under the new banner of Intelligent Delivery, or AG ID – a business the firm says is now contributing revenues of around £15m.
AG ID now encompasses the firm’s flexible lawyering service, AG Integrate; its strategic consulting team, AG Consulting; its process mapping and workflow management arm; its innovation and technology team; and its 150-strong transaction services team (TST).”Legal Weekarticle (27 Sep 2017)

“plan to launch the first law firm R&D Council, dedicated to creating new offerings that advance the business of law and redefine service delivery models, jointly helping Akerman and its clients overcome future barriers to innovation and growth.” (Firm press release – see link)
See also law2023.org.

Allen & Overy

i2
(April 2015)

The Lawyer Magazine reports here that “Allen & Overy (A&O) is launching an experimental “ideas and investment” group aimed at developing new technology-related opportunities, including in the area of artificial intelligence (AI).” See also the A&O write-up in The Lawyer UK 200 Business Services 2016 (p. 66, subscription required).

“Through Ashurst Advance, we are establishing an R&D capability to ensure that our offering continues to be market-leading and relevant. Applying insights from successful innovation in sectors outside legal, the Ashurst Advance team is focused on the capture, evaluation and deployment of new ideas, to ensure Ashurst remains at the forefront of change in the industry.” (See link)
See also firm press release

“It takes a village to build a company and it’s not so simple as just giving legal advice,” said [serial entreprenuer] Hyatt, a nonlawyer who will work part time with the firm in his new role. “There’s a lot of street-level practical advice that needs to occur in building a company. Blake [Cassels] is really cutting edge by doing this.””

“Clifford Chance launched Applied Solutions in July to offer regulatory and compliance products to banking clients. It operates as a separate entity from the Clifford Chance LLP law firm.” New York Law Journal (7 Sep 2018)

Clyde & Co

Data analytics lab
(Dec 2017)

“Clyde & Co has launched an in-house data analytics lab in partnership with University College London… is intended to help Clyde & Co accelerate exploration of product development in 2018.”

“International law firm CMS UK has today announced the launch of a dedicated group bringing together specialists from across the firm to focus on the future of its legal service design, delivery and technology for clients.” CMS Launches ‘By Design’ Legal Delivery Group (Artificial Lawyer, 13 Sep 2018))

DAC Beachcroft Claims Solutions Group has unveiled details of its Innovations Lab, a new R&D hub. Operating as a physical and virtual space, Innovations Lab will provide a creative environment in which multi-disciplinary teams of lawyers and operational experts can work collaboratively with clients and the wider insurance market to identify, evaluate, design, prototype and launch new commercial products and services.

“Through DWT De Novo, the research and development arm of Davis Wright Tremaine, we’re re-imagining legal services. By applying people, process, and technology in new ways, our firm is delivering more efficient, transparent, and cost-effective legal services, ….” [De Novo home page]

“a global collaborative innovation platform focused on developing, deploying, and investing in new technologies and processes to transform the practice of law around the world.” (Firm press release – see link)

Freshfields

Global Associate Innovation Group
(Nov 2016)

Associates “will pitch their ideas at a senior level and any ideas that have legs will be given financial backing.”Legal IT Insider (March 2017, p. 5)

“g+t<i> brings together the G+T team with clients + startups to explore better ways of meeting the needs of our clients, new business models and more efficient business processes [via] rapid prototyping and a ‘fail fast’ and learn methodology. The g+t<i> team’s R&D process moves ideas and opportunities through 3 main phases:” Investigate, Incubate, Implement

“supported by ideation software Ideawake, is a platform through which any member of the firm can come forward with ideas about how to create future products + deliver modern legal services… anchored to the firm’s core principle of helping clients to use lawyers less.”Legal IT Insider (27 July 2017)

“Osborne Clarke has set up an R&D budget specifically aimed at technology-related innovation as part of a push to grow technology investment levels firm-wide.”The Lawyer (29 Nov 2016); Legal IT Insider (30 Nov 2016)